Which feature best characterizes Romantic music?

• A. Flexibility of tempo (rubato)
• B. Regular phrase structure
• C. Alberti bass accompaniment
• D. Dominant use of primary chords

Answer: (A)

In Romantic music, expressive freedom in tempo is a defining feature. Rubato lets performers bend the timing of phrases for emotional impact—holding back a beat here, delaying a note there—without changing the overall tempo of the piece. This flexible approach mirrors the era’s emphasis on individual feeling, drama, and spontaneity, giving music a sense of vivid, personal expression.

Regular phrase structure points more to the balanced, orderly style favored in the Classical era, where periods and cadences often line up neatly. Alberti bass is a light, repeating pattern commonly found in Classical-era keyboard music, not something that captures the Romantic drive for broader, more varied textures. The dominant use of primary chords hints at a straightforward tonal approach, whereas Romantic harmony explores richer color, chromaticism, and surprising modulations, moving beyond simple I–V progressions.